Are you suure he doesn't?
Thorpe suspended for 2 years???
- Thread starter benjaminwah
- Start date
The World Championship isn't the only WPA event.
All Matchroom events and pretty much any event with a significant prize fund.
Not being able to play in any of those is a huge dent to any professional pool player.
Start paying them what they deserve for all the work and effort it requires, and then maybe we can hold them to higher standards.
According to an interview, he doesn't. He is a giant health nut. Good for him by the way.
I don't see how one correlates to the other. The organization has standards and Billy chose to agree to them and participate then proceeded to break the rules which carries a punishment. Would that change if he made millions per year?
I think that would also include the US Open since it is sanctioned by the WPA. I’m guessing it may also include anything on the WPA ranking list. If true, that’s a massive blow.
It's pretty easy... One isn't going to be subject to a drug test, and other ways of climbing up your ass, for a minimum wage job. I certainly wouldn't. I would tell them to get bent.
If you want to hold players to higher standards, you have to treat them like the professionals that they are. Of course that hasn't been done for 25 years.
Lots of jobs (low and high paying) require a drug test as a term of employment. Like you said, it's your choice to accept the terms or seek employment elsewhere. Billy chose to agree to the terms.
If one wants to be deemed a professional, one must act like a professional. He WILLINGLY agreed to the terms the WPA set forth and KNOWINGLY disregarded what he agreed to. That is not behavior befitting a professional. I seriously doubt finances would play a part. Billy would have done what Billy wanted to do. It seems to be his m.o. How many high paid athletes in other sports violate the rules? Lots.
No one has yet posted a source for the original story.
Mario He's suspension has documented sources, but this report that Thorpe was suspended for two years for smoking weed seems to be just unsubstantiated rumour, and it may be just pure BS.
Does anyone have any real evidence that this is .... well.... real??
Mario He's suspension has documented sources, but this report that Thorpe was suspended for two years for smoking weed seems to be just unsubstantiated rumour, and it may be just pure BS.
Does anyone have any real evidence that this is .... well.... real??
If I ran the world I wouldn't care what pool players drink/smoke during their free time but would empower tournament directors and referees to boot players if they are disorderly. Pool needs more 20-year old Billy Thorpes and less reliance on senior citizens. Earl is sober (I think) but often behaves worse during play than any pothead or drunk.
I guess we agree to disagree. There has to be standards in place and accountability when those standards are violated. What parents would want their kids involved with a sport that condones drug use at its highest level? I suppose being drunk and assaulting an opponent over a rack disagreement while on a live stream doesn't classify as Earl-like behavior. Pro pool doesn't need more Billy Thorpes, it needs more Chris Reinholds.
OK, my mistake - thanks
Did you see the drunken Thorpe video?
You might reconsider if you do.
I'll agree on the Billy-drunk-while-gambling-on-video comment (which didn't keep him out of any tournaments) and that he is no role model. And that it would be great if the world was filled with players like Chris (and Tyler). But pool doesn't need to have stricter standards than the NBA or NFL:
NBA will not randomly test players for marijuana again this season
The policy to not randomly test players for marijuana has been in place since the Orlando restart and will continue this season.
Fair enough. But the pool-in-tuxedos approach failed the game for 50 years. I read a few minutes ago that the WPA applies these rules because it's mandatory for sports that want Olympic recognition. That's a least a reason for all of this if that's the plan for professional pool. Online sports betting would be my plan like Snooker has in the UK.
That's a great point but the punishment does not fit the crime in today's world. I have zero issue if they have a no drug policy and enforce it, but two years - from someone who doesn't pay his salary, or at least any substantial part of it?
What it all boils down to is this.... what he does on his personal time, I couldn't give a shit less about.
Now if they want to say you cannot be under the influence or "using" during the tournament is prohibited, I could agree with that. For instance, going outside between matches, and then coming back inside smelling like you were sprayed by a skunk. I could see where that would irritate people. Kind of like someone going out and smoking cigarettes it coming back in smelling like smoke. That kind of irritates me a little bit.
And while we're on the subject of cigarettes, why doesn't the WPA test for tobacco use? Tobacco use goes against being a sports figure. And don't tell me it's because tobacco is legal. There are many things that the WPA test for that are perfectly legal over the counter, but you're not allowed to have in your system to participate in their events.
Now if they want to say you cannot be under the influence or "using" during the tournament is prohibited, I could agree with that. For instance, going outside between matches, and then coming back inside smelling like you were sprayed by a skunk. I could see where that would irritate people. Kind of like someone going out and smoking cigarettes it coming back in smelling like smoke. That kind of irritates me a little bit.
And while we're on the subject of cigarettes, why doesn't the WPA test for tobacco use? Tobacco use goes against being a sports figure. And don't tell me it's because tobacco is legal. There are many things that the WPA test for that are perfectly legal over the counter, but you're not allowed to have in your system to participate in their events.
Did you see the drunken Thorpe video?
You might reconsider if you do.
Pretty sure any pool player would sell their Olympic medal for 2k or less....